Greetings from THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH!

[simpsontruckdriver]

 

[pedro47]

A nice photo from Florida.

 

[iftravel]

thinking of booking Christmas 2026 at 7mo out. Any experience to share?

 

[TheHolleys87]

thinking of booking Christmas 2026 at 7mo out. Any experience to share?

For any dates in December, be ready to book at 8 AM Eastern time. That means have your parameters set up (desired resorts, dates, villa size) and click Search at precisely 8. Many dates are walked, especially studios and especially during the first two weeks of December, and owners can jump ahead of you if you try to walk, but you could try. If you don’t get what you want, waitlist it - you have nothing to lose! As during most of the year, the near-park resorts are harder to book at 7 months; SSR, OKW, and AKV-Kidani are most likely to be available at 7 months, but it’s not impossible to get others. 1BR are more likely to be available than studios, and the more expensive views are more likely to be available than the less expensive as well.

As far as the experience of being there, it’s beautiful, but pack your patience and expect crowds especially during the Christmas to New Year’s week. If you’ll be there when the Candlelight Processional is being presented and are interested in attending, booking the Dining Package can save you a lot of time compared to standing in the standby line.

We were just there, December 11-19, so ask away if you have more questions. Many years ago we were there over New Year’s and decided that, for us, celebrating in our DVC villa was preferable to being in Epcot or MK, but many people enjoy those experiences!

 

[iftravel]

For any dates in December, be ready to book at 8 AM Eastern time. That means have your parameters set up (desired resorts, dates, villa size) and click Search at precisely 8. Many dates are walked, especially studios and especially during the first two weeks of December, and owners can jump ahead of you if you try to walk, but you could try. If you don’t get what you want, waitlist it - you have nothing to lose! As during most of the year, the near-park resorts are harder to book at 7 months; SSR, OKW, and AKV-Kidani are most likely to be available at 7 months, but it’s not impossible to get others. 1BR are more likely to be available than studios, and the more expensive views are more likely to be available than the less expensive as well.

As far as the experience of being there, it’s beautiful, but pack your patience and expect crowds especially during the Christmas to New Year’s week. If you’ll be there when the Candlelight Processional is being presented and are interested in attending, booking the Dining Package can save you a lot of time compared to standing in the standby line.

We were just there, December 11-19, so ask away if you have more questions. Many years ago we were there over New Year’s and decided that, for us, celebrating in our DVC villa was preferable to being in Epcot or MK, but many people enjoy those experiences!

Heard Wilderness Lodge is really nicely decorated for Christmas. Think all those resorts around MK would be nice and two bedrooms are easiest due to high points. How hard is it to book a 2-bed around MK for Christmas right when it’s available at 7mo out, without walking from December 1?

 

[TheHolleys87]

Heard Wilderness Lodge is really nicely decorated for Christmas. Think all those resorts around MK would be nice and two bedrooms are easiest due to high points. How hard is it to book a 2-bed around MK for Christmas right when it’s available at 7mo out, without walking from December 1?

You might want to look at historical availability charts such as the ones at https://dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables and https://www.dvchelp.com/ to get an idea of how easy or difficult it is to book various resorts. Wilderness Lodge, because it's so beautiful, is hard to get at Christmas; BRV is probably a little easier than CCV, but not much. And the MK resorts - Poly, CR, BLT - can be difficult because of their location near MK. A lot of owners at those resorts book their homes at 11 months and don't move! So again, you probably need to set up your parameters at 7 months for 2BR in all WDW resorts for your dates, then see what comes up when you click Search. And remember that even if you end up booking SSR, OKW, or AKV, you can waitlist 2 that you'd rather have - it's not impossible for them to come through!

 

[easyrider]

View attachment 119783

You too @simpsontruckdriver .

Bill

 

[iftravel]

You might want to look at historical availability charts such as the ones at https://dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables and https://www.dvchelp.com/ to get an idea of how easy or difficult it is to book various resorts. Wilderness Lodge, because it's so beautiful, is hard to get at Christmas; BRV is probably a little easier than CCV, but not much. And the MK resorts - Poly, CR, BLT - can be difficult because of their location near MK. A lot of owners at those resorts book their homes at 11 months and don't move! So again, you probably need to set up your parameters at 7 months for 2BR in all WDW resorts for your dates, then see what comes up when you click Search. And remember that even if you end up booking SSR, OKW, or AKV, you can waitlist 2 that you'd rather have - it's not impossible for them to come through!

Thanks for the availability tool. Looks like 1-bed at BRV isn't super hard at 7MO (don't understand why Thanksgiving at this resort is more popular than Christmas). I have a general booking question. I should be prepared to make a 7-day booking even if I only need less becaues any particular day is available to whoever have enough points to book 7-days first. Is my understanding right?

 

[pedro47]

Iftravel. Thanks for sharing the chart information.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I should be prepared to make a 7-day booking even if I only need less becaues any particular day is available to whoever have enough points to book 7-days first.

If you don’t want 7 nights, no need to book them. Just book what you want at 7 months from check-in, if what you want is available. Seven nights is just the maximum you can book at 7 months from check-in.

The only reason I could see to book 7 nights would be if you’re walking, and booking 7 nights includes some nights you ultimately want to keep. That wouldn’t prevent an owner jumping in past you and getting that room for nights outside the 7 you book, though.

 

[iftravel]

If you don’t want 7 nights, no need to book them. Just book what you want at 7 months from check-in, if what you want is available. Seven nights is just the maximum you can book at 7 months from check-in.

The only reason I could see to book 7 nights would be if you’re walking, and booking 7 nights includes some nights you ultimately want to keep. That wouldn’t prevent an owner jumping in past you and getting that room for nights outside the 7 you book, though.

Yeah what meant to say is my understanding is Christmas Eve is available to 7-night bookers first so if I want to increase my chance, I cannot wait until it’s available to shorter stay. Yes the I have to walk a bit to cover days after Christmas but those may not be as hard. And finally I cut off the days I don’t need. The challenge is obviously you have to have enough points to book 7-days.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Yeah what meant to say is my understanding is Christmas Eve is available to 7-night bookers first so if I want to increase my chance, I cannot wait until it’s available to shorter stay. Yes the I have to walk a bit to cover days after Christmas but those may not be as hard. And finally I cut off the days I don’t need. The challenge is obviously you have to have enough points to book 7-days.

Ah, yes, now I understand what you mean. Any particular night will be available first to someone who books 7 nights, with that night being number 7. Good luck!